Parkinson’s Dry Mouth Treatment

Excessive Saliva And Drooling In Parkinsons

Saliva is needed for the first stages of digestion, including chewing and swallowing. This watery substance contains enzymes that start to digest our food.

Many people with Parkinsons experience poor saliva control, which may result in excessive saliva and drooling, or alternatively, in a dry mouth and other eating problems.

Preventing Tooth Decay Due To Dry Mouth

Not only does saliva help digest food and make it possible for you to chew and swallow, it is the natural mouth cleanser. Without saliva, tooth decay and gum disease are more likely. If you have a dry mouth, to fight tooth decay and gum disease, you need to be extra careful about following good oral hygiene habits, which consist of:

• Brushing your teeth at least twice a day , after every meal and before bedtime
• Flossing your teeth every day
• Using a toothpaste that contains fluoride
• Visiting your dentist for a checkup and cleaning at least twice a year your dentist may recommend a daily fluoride rinse or fluoride gel to keep your teeth healthy.

How Does Parkinsons Disease Impact Oral Health

There are two primary ways in which Parkinsons disease can affect someones oral health. First, Parkinsons disease impacts a persons ability to use fine motor skills. Symptoms of Parkinsons include uncontrollable movements, tremors, stiffness, and slower movement. Secondly, some medications used to treat Parkinsons disease decrease or increase saliva production, which can also impact oral health.

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How Is It Diagnosed

Diagnosing Parkinson’s disease is mostly a clinical process, meaning it relies heavily on a healthcare provider examining your symptoms, asking you questions and reviewing your medical history. Some diagnostic and lab tests are possible, but these are usually needed to rule out other conditions or certain causes. However, most lab tests aren’t necessary unless you don’t respond to treatment for Parkinson’s disease, which can indicate you have another condition.

Who Does It Affect

The risk of developing Parkinsons disease naturally increases with age, and the average age at which it starts is 60 years old. Its slightly more common in men or people designated male at birth than in women or people designated female at birth .

While Parkinsons disease is usually age-related, it can happen in adults as young as 20 .

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What Are The Most Common Causes Of Dry Mouth

Dry mouth happens when something causes the salivary glands to produce less saliva. The most common causes of dry mouth are:

• Medications.

Hundreds of medications can reduce your bodys saliva production. If you check the information that comes with your medication, you may see dry mouth listed as a side effect.

Some medicines known to cause dry mouth include:

• Antianxiety drugs and antidepressants.
• Parkinsons disease medications.

Other causes include:

• Dehydration: Sometimes, your body lacks enough fluids. For example, if youre sick, dont drink enough, or sweat a lot, you may get dehydrated.
• Mouth-breathing: You may breathe through your mouth at night, especially if you have a stuffy nose .
• Medical conditions: Dry mouth can be a sign of a more serious condition, such as diabetes, Alzheimers disease, stroke and Sjogrens syndrome. Sjogrens syndrome is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack the glands that produce moisture. It occurs mostly in women who have gone through menopause.

Can Parkinson’s Disease Be Cured

No, Parkinson’s disease is not curable. However, it is treatable, and many treatments are highly effective. It might also be possible to delay the progress and more severe symptoms of the disease.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Parkinson’s disease is a very common condition, and it is more likely to happen to people as they get older. While Parkinson’s isn’t curable, there are many different ways to treat this condition. They include several different classes of medications, surgery to implant brain-stimulation devices and more. Thanks to advances in treatment and care, many can live for years or even decades with this condition and can adapt to or receive treatment for the effects and symptoms.

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Botox For Excessive Drooling

Injections of Botoxbotulinum toxin Adirectly into your salivary glands have also been used to try to stop excessive saliva in Parkinson’s disease. Although botox works for many people, the treatment carries a risk of side effects including too-dry of a mouth. Botox injections in this area can also make it difficult to swallow food.

The effects of the Botox only last for about three to four months, after which the procedure would need to be repeated. If you’re interested in trying this, make sure to look for a medical professional experienced in this specific procedure, as serious side effects weakening your neck muscles so that you have problems swallowing are possible. Neurologists, pain management healthcare providers, and physiatrists are healthcare providers with experience using botox for neurological causes. Most dermatologists use botox in their practices as well, but it is often more for cosmetic reasons.

Botox injections can also be pricey. Many insurance companies cover botox or part of the cost, but they do not cover all uses of Botox. Off-label uses are generally not covered. When Botox is covered for Parkinson’s it is typically for dystonia, involuntary muscle contractions. You’ll want to check with your insurance company to see if they cover botox for excessive drooling related to Parkinson’s.

What Is Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons disease is a condition where a part of your brain deteriorates, causing more severe symptoms over time. While this condition is best known for how it affects muscle control, balance and movement, it can also cause a wide range of other effects on your senses, thinking ability, mental health and more.

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Eating Swallowing Problems And Saliva Control

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Eating and swallowing problems, known as dysphagia, occur in many medical conditions and become more common as we get older.

The main risks associated with swallowing problems are:

• Choking or asphyxiation: When food blocks the airway, preventing breathing. Also, when food or liquid enter the airway below the level of the vocal cords.
• Aspiration pneumonia: When food or liquid enter the lungs, this may cause a lung infection.
• Increased secretion: As a reaction to food or liquid entering the lungs.
• Dehydration: Lack of fluids can lead to problems such as constipation.
• Malnutrition: Lack of nourishment leads to poor health and harms the bodys ability to fight infection.
• Drooling: decrease in mouth sensitivity and / or a reduction in the frequence of swallowing saliva can cause drooling.
• Difficulties in swallowing medications.

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Mechanisms For Drooling Disturbance In Pd

Patient reports of too much saliva in my mouth suggest hypersalivation as a cause. However, saliva production appears unchanged or even depressed in PD, indicating excessive salivation is not a crucial factor.26,3840,4547

Decreased salivary flow may relate to dysautonomia in PD. Hyposecretion may arise from medications common in PD.20,21,36 Altered reaction to stimulation, from reduced olfactory and other sensory triggers, may also play a role.48 Hou et al49 conducted a fMRI investigation to examine basal ganglia functional connectivity in drug-naïve people with PD who did or did not drool. Those with sialorrhea showed significantly reduced functional connectivity of putamen within bilateral sensorimotor cortices, superior and inferior parietal lobules and areas in the right occipital and temporal lobes.

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Q: How Do Botulum Toxin Injections Affect Oral Health

In some instances, medications can be prescribed to control excessive saliva or drooling for people with Parkinsons. Sometimes these medications are not effective enough to satisfactorily control drooling. In that case, your physician might suggest injections of botulinum toxin. Small amounts of botulinum toxin are injected directly into the salivary glands inside the mouth in order to temporarily shut down saliva production. Typically, botulinum toxin is injected into the parotid glands and/or the submandibular glands. Parotid glands are activated during chewing and submandibular glands produce a significant amount of saliva . These injections can be an effective approach to addressing drooling and can provide relief for up to 3 months at a time. Another benefit may include keeping dentures properly sealed and reducing breakdown of the skin in the corners of the mouth.

Occasionally this approach can simply be too effective at reducing saliva production, causing dry mouth. As previously outlined in this article, dry mouth caused by lack of saliva can have a negative impact on oral health.

Tip!

Suck on sugar free hard candies or chew sugar free cinnamon gum to initiate saliva production.

Eating Swallowing And Saliva Management

Some people with Parkinsons may find they have difficulties with eating, swallowing and saliva control at some stage of their journey with Parkinsons.

Parkinsons can cause the muscles in the jaw and face to become stiff which affects the control of chewing and swallowing.

Another symptom of Parkinsons can be producing excessive saliva. The stiffer facial muscles can change the nature of saliva, which may become thicker and stickier.

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Medications For Treatment Of Parkinsons Symptoms

• Other Medications

The main aim of ParkinsonsDisease medication is to compensate for the lack of dopamine in the brain that isthe underlying cause of Parkinsons Disease symptoms. The complexity ofParkinsons and number of possible prescribed medications dictates that youmust include your personal physician and neurologist in selecting medicationsfor your treatment. They are most familiar with your Parkinsons Diseasesymptoms and medications that will improve your response to the ParkinsonsDisease.

The informationprovided herein by the Parkinsons Disease Support Group of Southern New Mexicowill provide you with preliminary a view of the many areas for which you willneed to seek professional medical support and advice from licensedprofessionals to ensure the right medication is prescribed for your specificcombination of Parkinsons symptoms. It is always a good idea to check forpharmaceuticals interacting with a trusted pharmacist.

Although there are currently no medications that can cure or slow the progression of Parkinsons Disease. There are several treatments that can help relieve symptoms, including the primary motor symptoms of Parkinsons Disease. Treatment approaches include medications, surgery , and complementary or alternative medicines. TOP

Dry Mouth Remedies And Treatments

• Sip room-temperature water throughout the day and night and carry a water bottle with you at all times.

• Avoid drinking lots of water at an extreme temperature .

• Only drink sugarless drinks and avoid carbonated beverages.

• Include a beverage like water during meals. Drink water before, during and after the meal.

• Chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless candy to stimulate salivary flow.

• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. Both alcoholic beverages and smoking dry out the mouth and make you more susceptible to gum diseases and oral cancer. Select an alcohol-free mouth rinse if youre in the habit of using a mouthwash. Read the label and make sure alcohol is not listed as an ingredient.

• Select an alcohol-free mouth rinse if youre in the habit of using a mouthwash. Read the label and make sure alcohol is not listed as an ingredient.

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Swallowing Difficulties And Parkinsons Medication

If swallowing tablets or capsules becomes difficult, it may be tempting to crush tablets or open capsules, but this should never be done, as it can cause serious side effects and/or prevent the medication working properly. Always ask your pharmacist or doctor, or check the patient information leaflet before tampering with medicines in any way. Swallowing medications with jelly, yoghurt or apple sauce may help you swallow medication more comfortably.

Many Parkinsons medicines are prepared or designed to work in a particular way that will be harmed by crushing or opening capsules. For example, some medicines have:

• Sugar or film coating: This is usually to make them taste better, but crushing may make them taste unpleasant.
• Enteric coating: This coating is designed to keep the tablet whole in the stomach, in some cases to protect the stomach or to protect the medicine from stomach acid so that it is released after passing through the stomach, for example in the intestine. This type of tablet should never be crushed.
• Modified or controlled release: These medications have been designed to release slowly and act over a longer period, so they can be taken less often. Crushing this type of tablet would lead to a rapid release of the medicine which could be harmful.

If you experience any problems you should talk to your doctor, so that he or she can prescribe medication in a form that is easier to take. Some medicines are available in liquid form.

Why Dry Mouth Needs To Be Treated

Saliva neutralizes the acids from bacteria in the mouth, the foods you eat, and the beverages you drink. It also makes chewing and swallowing easier and aids digestion. If your mouth is dry however, the acids in your mouth are more concentrated and are more likely to cause tooth decay and gum disease. Also, the chances of tooth decay increase because food particles are more likely to linger in a dry mouth.

Saliva is also necessary to help your teeth absorb key minerals including calcium and fluoride. Without enough saliva, your teeth can become weaker and vulnerable to damage.

Additionally, when your mouth lacks proper lubrication due to insufficient saliva production, you have a greater risk of contracting thrush and parts of the mouth including the tongue and gums can become swollen and inflamed. And, this provides the perfect environment for germs to breed and cause bad breath.

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Eating Swallowing And Saliva Control

Some people with Parkinsons may find they have problems with eating, swallowing and controlling their saliva.

This information looks at the issues you may face, explains why they happen and what help is available.

Eating is a social activity and problems that affect chewing and swallowing can have a big impact on how much you enjoy meal times. For example, some people with Parkinsons have told us that they feel self-conscious or embarrassed while eating because of their symptoms.

Its important to look out for symptoms related to difficulties with eating and swallowing. These can develop slowly over time and you may not notice them, so family, friends or carers should know what to look out for too.

If youre not able to swallow properly, you may experience:

• drooling
• inability to clear food from the mouth
• food sticking in the throat
• a gurgly voice
• coughing when eating or drinking
• choking on food, liquid or saliva
• problems swallowing medication
• discomfort in the chest or throat

These things can lead to a number of long-term problems, including:

Talk to your GP as soon as you can if you have problems with eating or swallowing they may refer you to specialists who can help.

What Medications And Treatments Are Used

Medication treatments for Parkinsons disease fall into two categories: Direct treatments and symptom treatments. Direct treatments target Parkinsons itself. Symptom treatments only treat certain effects of the disease.

Medications

Medications that treat Parkinsons disease do so in multiple ways. Because of that, drugs that do one or more of the following are most likely:

Several medications treat specific symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Symptoms treated often include the following:

• Erectile and sexual dysfunction.
• Hallucinations and other psychosis symptoms.

Deep brain stimulation

In years past, surgery was an option to intentionally damage and scar a part of your brain that was malfunctioning because of Parkinsons disease. Today, that same effect is possible using deep-brain stimulation, which uses an implanted device to deliver a mild electrical current to those same areas.

The major advantage is that deep-brain stimulation is reversible, while intentional scarring damage is not. This treatment approach is almost always an option in later stages of Parkinson’s disease when levodopa therapy becomes less effective, and in people who have tremor that doesnt seem to respond to the usual medications.

Experimental treatments

Researchers are exploring other possible treatments that could help with Parkinsons disease. While these arent widely available, they do offer hope to people with this condition. Some of the experimental treatment approaches include:

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Other Relevant Information Pages

Slow Muscles Carrying Food To Your Stomach

Parkinsons may also slow down the muscles carrying food down into your stomach. Food moving slowly down your food pipe to your stomach can make you feel full up. But once it arrives at your stomach you realise youre still hungry. By this time the food on your plate may have gone cold and be unappealing.

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